Connacht Rugby has confirmed that seven new players have been offered contracts with the NUIG Connacht Academy under Nigel Carolan from the beginning of 2015/16 season.

Of the seven new Academy recruits, Conan O’Donnell, Stephen McVeigh and Cian Romaine played pivotal roles with this year’s Ireland U20s in both the IRB 6 Nations and World Rugby Championship.

Conan has become the first NUI Galway player to receive a contract with the NUI Galway Academy, due reward for his excellent performances and commitment shown both on and off throughout his early playing career. We wish him every success with the Academy in this pivotal step in his rugby development and congratulate him on being the first NUI Galway RFC representative to receive such an accolade. We hope he is the first of many.